Railroad crossing



. H. BLAIR A A- 2,285,559

` June 9, 1942.

- y v RAILROAD CROSSINGl l 4` ShetSI- Sheet 3 Filed April 4, 1941 I Fllg 312 rm NVENTOR, f Cly e H. Blcur.'

M, fm

' ATTORNEYS Jne 9, 1.942.

:.H. BLAIR RAILROAD cRossINs .Filed April 4, `1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ely .9

INVENTOR, Clyde, H. Blom BY r Fly 1 0 M, "m A TORNEYS.

Patented June 9, 1942 rrlcs RAILROAD CROSSING Civile H. Blair, Marion, Ohio applicati@ April 4, 1941, serial No. 386,939

Y (c1. 24e-378) Claims.

My invention relates to a railroad crossing. It-

crossing each other at right angles, or any other angle, to provide a continuous track in the direction of movement of the train.

It is desirable to provide continuous rails at the crossing in the direction of movement of the train to prevent injury to the tracks and wheels of the train, and also to eliminate excessive noise and bumping of the car wheels as they pass over the intersection. At the present time, the raiis extending in one direction are provided with transverse slits for the anges of wheels running over the rails extending in the other direction. This causes the noise and damage referred to above.

In the past, various mechanisms have been devised for this general purpose. However, these prior art arrangements have not been adopted by the railroads because they possess a number of disadvantages. vices are very complicated in structure and are, therefore, impractical. Furthermore, most of these prior art devices are not entirely safe and foolproof. Also, most of the prior art devices have been of such a nature that they will not withstand the heavy wear to which they are subjected in use.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide mechanism associated with a railroad crossing which is of simple structure and which may be easily and quickly operated to provide continuous rails in either direction.

Another object of my invention is to provide' a device of the type indicated in the preceding paragraph which has safety locking means associated therewith for insuring that the device will be in the proper position to provide the rcontinuous rails in the desired direction and to maintain the rails in such condition.

Another object of my invention is toprovide a device of the type indicated which is not only of simple structure but which is of a very rugy ged structure so that it can readily withstand vided for moving these movable rail sections from f Most of these prior art de-` change them.

` The preferred embodiment of my invention is'.

one position, where they are in alignment with the two rails extending in one direction, to another position, where they are in alignment with the two-rails extending in the other direction. The stationary rails are socut away and the movable rail sections are Vof such cooperating shape that continuous rails are provided in the desired direction. -In additionv to the means for moving the movable rail sections, I provide additional and independent meansfor insuring that the movable rail sections are moved into the proper positionV and for insuring that they will remain in such position until it is desired to illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference responding parts and wherein: Y

Figurefly is a perspective view of a railroad crossing with which my invention is` associated.l

Figure 2 is a plan view of the-structure shownin .Figure 1.

substantially along line 33 vof Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail in perspectiveillustrating the cut-away portions of one of the' rail intersections and the associated movable rail sections. Figure 5 is a detail in perspective oi part of the operating means for moving one lof the movable rail sections. y

Figure 6 is a plan view of one of the rail sections illustrating the two positions of the movable rail sections.

Figure '7 is a plan view illustrating modified means for moving one of the movable rail sections.

Figure is a vertical sectional view taken through the Vstructure of Figure 7 and illustrating more in detail the modified locking means used with the structure of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the structure illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. n

Figure 10-is a plan view of a modification of the actuating means of my device.

With reference to the drawings I illustrate a pair o f rail membersl l, extending in one direc-v tion,and a pairof rail members 2, extending in Y another' direction, at right angles to the rail;

members-l. However, it isto be understood that these members may intersect each other at other i" Members l and 2 arev offsolid crossangles. y section andare connected to the usual flanged rails as shown in Figure 1.

At each intersectionl ofY members l andz2, vthe Y upper edges of both membersY are cut'awayin designate corthe manner illustrated in the drawings. The upper flange of the rail member I is cut away to provide an outside pointed portion 3 Yand an inside pointed portion 4 to extend towards each other but which have their ends 3a and 4a spaced from each other. The upper ilange of the rail member 2 is out away in such a manner as to provide an outside pointed portion 5 and an inside pointed portion 6 which extend towards each other but which have their ends 5a and 6a spaced from each other. The cut-away portions provide at bearing surfaces Ia and 2a on the rail members I and 2. Mounted at the intersection of the tracks I and 2 for movement into alignment with either the track I or the track 2, I provide a rail section 'I.

Midway between its spaced points on the disk 23. The disk 23 is rotatably mounted, as at 24, on a suitable sup-port 25. The disk 23 may be rotated by means of a rod 25 which is pivotally connected to one of the arms 22, as as 27, and which extends to a suitable control point such as a control tower. It will be apparent that when the rod 26 is pushed or pulled, the disk 23 will be rotated. This will cause the rods 2I to push or pull on the arms I8 swinging the pins I2 about their axis. This, in turn, will cause the movable section 'I of the tracks to swing into alignment with the tracks I or the tracks 2.

For insuring that the movable section 'I will be in their final positions in alignment with the track I or the track 2 and for maintaining them ends, the section 'I is of the same width as the upper edge of the track member I or the track 2 but is tapered at one end to form a pointed end 8 and at its other end to form a pointed end 9. It will be noted from Figure 4 that where the Itracks I and 2 intersect they are provided with interlocking portions indicated generally by the numeral I9. The interlocking portions Il) are such that the surfaces la and 2a will be at the same level when the tracks are in their final positions.Y At the point of intersection of the tracks, they are provided with aligning openings II which are adapted to receive a vertically disposed pivot pin I2. This pivot pin I2 has its upper end suitably secured in a socket formed in Vthe lower side of the movable track section 'I. Thus, the pin I2 serves to pivot the section 1 for swinging movement relative to the tracks I and 2.

It will be apparent from Figure 6 that each movable section 'I of the track is so shaped that when it is swung into the full line position of this gure with the pointed end 9 in contact with pointed portion 6 of track 2 and Ywith the pointed end 8 in contact with pointed portion 5 of track 2, its opposite edges will be in alignment with the edges of the upper portion of the rail 2. On the other hand, when the member 'I is swung to the dotted line position indicated in this figure, with the pointed end 8 in contact with the pointed portion 3 of track I and with the pointed end 9 in contact with the pointed portion 4 of track I, the oppositeedges of the section 1 will be in alignment with the edges of the upper portion of rail I. Thus, in either position of member 'I, a continuous rail will be provided. The pointed portion 3 of rail I terminates a short distance from the edge of rail 2 to provide a notch I3 for the flange of the wheel of the train to pass through when operating on track 2. Similarly the pointed portion 5 of rail 2 terminates short of the edge of the rail I to provide a notch-I4 through which the flange of the wheel of the train may pass when the wheel is operating on track I. Also the pointed end 8 of member 'I is provided with a blunted extreme end I5 to prevent this end from jagging into the flange of the wheel.

For moving all of the members I simultaneously into alignment with either the tracks I or the tracks 2, I provide the following structure. The lower end of each pin I2 is provided with a uted portion I6 which is adapted to be gripped by a split uted collar `I'I. ,byfa crank arm I8. The crank arm I8 is pivotally connected by a yoke I9 and an adjustable .turnbuckle to a rod 2I (Figures 1 and 2). The inner end of each rod 2I is connected to a radially projecting arm 22 carried by a rotatable disk 23. The arms 22 are carriedat circumferentally in such1 positions until it is desired to change them I provide the following structure. This structure comprises a diagonally disposed bar 28 disposed at the outer corner of each of the track intersections adjacent the member 1. This bar carries at its ends shoes 29 each of which is adapted to engage an edge of the member'.

' The bar 23 and shoes 29 are supported on the This collar .is carried upper end of a pair of rods 30. These rods 30 have horizontal portions on their lower ends which are rotatably mounted in bearings 3| se'- cured to the lower edges of tracks I and 2. Thus, the entire unit carried by the rods 39 may be swung upwardly to the position indicated in Figure 1 with one of the shoes 29 in contact with the outer edge of member 'I which is in alignment with track I and the member 'I will be locked in this position. The unit may, however, be swung downwardly to permit swinging of member `'I in a horizontal plane to the position where it is in alignment with track 2. Then it may be swung upwardly so that the other shoe 29 will lock member 'I inthe second position.

For swinging the locking unit about the pivot points 3I, I provide a rod 32. This rod 32 is rotatably carried in bearings 33 secured to the lower edges of tracks I. Each end of the rod 32 is provided with an upstanding portion which oarries a vertically slotted member 34 which engages'the rod 29. Three of these rods 32 are provided for connecting adjacent pairs of locking'units. One of the rods 32 may be rotated by means of a crank arm 35 which has its upper end pivotally connected to a control rod 36, This rod 36 may also extend to a suitable control point such as a control tower. When the rod 32 is rotated it will swing the members 34, carried thereby,around the points 33 and will swing the locking units 28 about the point 3|. The rods 32 which do not carry the arm 35 will also be rotatedV simultaneously; Y

The looking units will function to lock the members 'I in their final position. This mechanism operates entirely independently of the mechanism for moving members 'I. In oase the members 'I are not moved completely into their nal positions, they will be engaged by shoes 29 and forced into such positions when the locking mechanism is set. If the shoes I are too far out of position for some reason, it will be imposment with tracks 2, the surfaces 2a will underlie them.

In Figures 7 and 9 inclusive, I have illustrated a modified form of my invention. The structure is practically the same with the exception of thev mechanism for operating the sections 'la and the mechanism for locking them in their two positions. In this instance the sections 'la are swung to their different positions by means of rack sections [9a carried on the ends of rods 2 la. The sections l Sa engage gears Ha keyed on the lower end of the pins 12a, carried the sections 1a. The means for moving the rods 2|a will be the same as the means for moving rods 2| p-reviously described. The rod 21a in this instance, is mounted for limited movement in a bracket 21a which is pivotally connected to an arm corresponding to arm 22 of Figure 2. A pair of springs 2lb are provided for normally preventing movement of the rods relative to bracket 2lb. These springs will act to relieve the strain and possible snapping of the rod during the pushing and pulling operations and will also provide for expansion and contraction of the rod.

In this instance the sections 'la may be locked in position by means of vertically movable latch members 29a carried by the track members I and 2. Each latch member 29a is provided with a roller 29h on its lower ends which may be engaged by a cam portion 3Ua carried by the rotatable cam disk 32a. The disk 32a may be rotated in any suitable manner. Springs 29o are associated with members 29a. for normally maintaining them in their lowermost positions. The cam portions 30a are arranged in such a manner that when members 29a carried by the tracks 2 are up, the members 29a carried by tracks I are down. Thus, with this structure also the locking mechanism will function entirely independently of the mechanism for moving members la.

In Figure 10, I provide a modified means for rotating the disk 23. A low speed reversible motor 26a is provided for driving a shaft that carries a bevel gear portion 23a. Portion 23a cooperates with the bevel gear segment 23h suitably mounted on the underside of the disk member 23. It will be apparent from the above thatv the disk 23 can be rotated by means of the motor and gear connections carried by the rod. The motor can be easily controlled from a control tower by suitable electric controls.

It will .be apparent from the above description that I have provided a railroad crossing having many advantages. The device of my invention may be quickly adjusted to provide continuous rails in either direction. My apparatus is very simple but is very effective and very sturdy. Furthermore, it is completely safe and foolproof.

Various otherv advantages will be apparent from the preceding description, the drawings and the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A railroad crossing having pairs of tracks extending in different directions, each of said tracks adjacent the intersection having its upper edge cut away to provide pointed portions at its inner and outer edges which extend towards each other but which are spaced from each other, a movable track section pivotally mounted at the intersection for movement in a horizontal plane, said movable track section having pointed ends which will cooperate with said pointed portions of either track to provide a continuous track of uniform width, and means for swinging Y said track sections into either of said positions.

2. A structure according to claim 1 wherein additional means is provided for locking the movable track sections in the desired position.

3. A structure according to claim l wherein themeans for moving the track sections comprises a plurality of rods, said track sections being supported by pivot pins, means for connecting said rods to said pivot pins to produce rotation thereof, means for moving said rods, said means comprising a rotatable disk having the rods connected to radially extending arms carried thereby, and means for rotating said disk. Y

4. A railroad crossing having pairs of tracks extending in different directions, each of said tracks adjacentV the intersection having its upper edge cut away to provide pointed portions at its inner and outer edges which extend t0- wards each other but which are spaced from each other, a movable track section pivotally mounted at the intersection for movement in a horizontal plane, said movable track section having pointed ends which will cooperate with said pointed portions of either track to provide a continuous track of uniform width, means for swinging said track sections into either of said positions, said means comprising pivot pins which support said movable track sections, a plurality of rods connected to said pivot pins to produce rotation thereof, a rotatable disk having radially projecting arms connected Yto the opposite ends of said rods, means for rotating said disk, independent means for locking said movable track sections in the desired positions, said means comprising a unit mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane in the outer corner of each intersection, said unit carrying shoes adapted to engage the movable track sections and maintain them in position, means for swinging said units, said means comprising a rotatable rod connected to said units, and means for rotating said rod.

5. A railroad crossing having pairs of tracks extending in dierent directions, each of said tracks adjacent the intersection having its upper edge cut away to provide pointed portions at its inner and outer edges which extend towards each other but which are spaced from each other, a movable track section pivotally mounted at the intersection for movement in a horizontal plane, said movable track section having pointed ends which will` cooperate with said pointed portions of either track to provide said disk, independent means for locking saidl movable track sections in the desired positions, said means comprising vertically movable latch members adapted to engage the movable track sections, means for moving said latch members, said means comprising a rotatable cam-carrying disk, and means for rotating said disk.

' CLYDE H. BLAIR. 

